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The storm has passed, and now you are standing outside looking at dents across your car. Some may be obvious. Others may only appear when the light hits the hood or roof a certain way.
Before scheduling a repair, take a few minutes to look over the vehicle and document what happened. These first steps can help you understand the damage, prepare for a possible insurance claim, and find out whether paintless dent repair may be an option.
The hood, roof, and trunk usually take the most direct hits during a hailstorm, but they are not the only areas that can be damaged. Walk around the entire vehicle and check:
You may notice shallow dents, chipped paint, cracked glass, or loose trim. Check the vehicle outdoors and in a garage if possible. A change in lighting can reveal dents that were hard to see the first time around.
Take a few photos before having the car washed or repaired. Get a couple from farther back, along with closer shots of the dents on each panel.
It also helps to record the date and location of the storm. If you have pictures or video of the hail as it happened, save those as well. Your insurance company may ask for information about when and where the damage occurred.
Hail dents do not always show up clearly in a phone picture. That is normal. A professional inspection uses lighting designed to make small changes in the panel easier to see.
A few dents may not affect how the car drives. Before heading out, make sure the hail did not crack a window, break a light or mirror, knock any trim loose, or keep the hood from closing.
When you are unsure whether the vehicle is safe, do not guess. Have the questionable area checked before getting back on the road.
If you have comprehensive coverage, it may include hail damage. Before filing a claim, pull up your policy or call your insurance company with a few questions:
The cost of the repair may be close to or less than the deductible, especially when the damage is limited. An inspection can give you more information before you decide whether filing a claim makes sense.
Express Paintless can look over the damage and walk you through the repair estimate. We can also help with the claim process, although your insurer will decide what the policy pays for.
What looks like a handful of dents in the driveway may turn out to be more extensive under shop lighting. During an inspection, a technician checks each exposed panel and notes the depth, shape, and location of the dents.
The technician will also check the paint. PDR may work well on a shallow dent where the finish is still intact. If the paint has cracked, the metal is badly stretched, or the panel has been repaired before, the shop may recommend something else.
Once the inspection is complete, the shop can explain which parts of the vehicle may be repaired with PDR and whether anything else needs attention.
Paintless dent repair, or PDR, removes dents without sanding, filler, or new paint. Using special lights to see the shape of each dent, a technician works the metal back into place while leaving the existing finish alone.
PDR is often used for hail damage repair because hail can leave numerous dents without breaking the paint. Whether it will work on a particular vehicle depends on several things, including:
Not every dent will necessarily need the same repair method. One panel may respond well to PDR while another needs conventional repair. The technician should inspect the vehicle before recommending either option.
A single door ding and a vehicle covered in hail dents are very different jobs. Without paint or body filler, PDR has fewer steps than conventional repair, but that does not mean every vehicle can be finished the same day.
Timing can depend on the number of dents, how many panels were hit, whether parts must be removed for access, the shop’s schedule, and the insurance process. Express Paintless can give you a better idea of the turnaround after inspecting the damage.
Do not try to force the dents out with household tools, boiling water, dry ice, or suction devices sold online. A dent that looks simple from the outside may be stretched, located over a brace, or difficult to reach. Trying to repair it without the right tools can damage the paint or make the panel harder to correct.
It is also a good idea to understand the estimate before approving the work. Ask which panels will be repaired with PDR, whether any conventional repairs are expected, and how changes to the estimate will be handled if additional damage is found.
Major storms can also bring temporary repair operations into the area. Before leaving your vehicle with any company, confirm its business location, contact information, repair process, and how it handles insurance-related work.
You do not need to scrub every inch of the car, but a thick layer of dirt or pollen can make smaller dents harder to see. Take your photos first, then ask the shop if they want the vehicle cleaned before you bring it in.
Your policy may help pay for hail repairs if you carry comprehensive coverage. How much it pays will depend on the policy, your deductible, and the insurance company’s decision.
Many cosmetic dents do not stop a vehicle from being driven. Broken glass, damaged lights or mirrors, loose parts, or problems with the hood or trunk may make driving unsafe. Have those concerns checked first.
They may be. A technician will need to look at the paint, panel condition, dent shape, previous repairs, and accessibility before recommending PDR.
Not necessarily. Shallow dents can disappear in a picture depending on the color of the vehicle, lighting, and angle. An in-person inspection may reveal damage that was not obvious in your photos.
If your car was caught in a Central Texas hailstorm, Express Paintless can inspect the damage and help you understand the available repair options. We have served Central Texas drivers since 2008, with shops in San Marcos and New Braunfels.
Visit our San Marcos location, our New Braunfels location, or contact Express Paintless to schedule a hail damage inspection.
Hail damaged your car? Learn what to check, how insurance may apply, and when to schedule a hail damage inspection in Central Texas.
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